Jan. 15, 1921 –

May 2, 2011

The memorial service for Thomas Lanier Maynard, 90, of Bainbridge, will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 6, at First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Gerald A. Little officiating.

The graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 6, at Hopeful Baptist Church Cemetery in Hopeful, Ga. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 5, at the funeral home.

Mr. Maynard was born Jan. 15, 1921, at the family residence in Elmodel, Ga., the son of Tom and Allie Mae Maynard. He died Monday, May 2, 2011, at Flowers Hospital in Dothan, Ala. He married Sara Margaret Hays in March of 1945.

Mr. Maynard attended Norman Park College for two years and joined the U.S. Navy in August of 1942, after the outbreak of World War II. Initially assigned to aviation machinist mate school at Willington Naval Air Station near Memphis, Tenn., he was transferred to NAS Willow Grove, Pa., and eventually to the USS Wasp in Atlantic City, N.J. After attending Emory University and Columbia University, Mr. Maynard was commissioned an Ensign and deployed on the Command ship USS Catoctin and headed for the fight in the Pacific. After the war ended, he was processed out of the U.S. Navy and attended graduate school at Emory University.

In 1948, Tom and Margaret moved to Bainbridge, where he was hired as the principal of West Bainbridge High School. He taught classes and coached boys’ basketball. He worked with West Bainbridge citizens to finally build a lunchroom and gym for the school community. He is remembered by that community for the profound difference he made in the lives of his students. This began a long life of service to young people. After 15 years as an educator, Mr. Maynard became the juvenile probation officer in Decatur County. This led to a position as director of the new Youth Development Center in Blakely. He eventually became the regional director of five YDCs in Southwest Georgia, a position from which he retired in 1993 at the age of 72.

Mr. Maynard was a dedicated civic leader during the 63 years he lived in Bainbridge. An active member of Bainbridge Rotary Club and V.F.W. Post 4904 for many years, he also served 33 years on the Bainbridge Planning Commission and was chairman for more than 20 years. Mr. Maynard will be best remembered for his service to the youth of Decatur County and his commitment to developing and mentoring young men and women.

Mr. Maynard was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Hays Maynard.

Survivors include his sons, Mike Maynard and his wife, Linda, of Mouth of Wilson, Va., and Charles Maynard and his wife, Pam, of Auburn, Ala.; his daughters, Suzanne Maynard of Pike Road, Ala., and Peggy M. Corbett and her husband, Rick, of Canton, Ga.; his sister, Fronia Hart of Elmodel; 10 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and special family friends and care givers, Ellen and Toby Dawson of Dothan, Ala.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 7067, Bainbridge, GA 39818.

Ivey Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.